In sports, a dynasty is a team or individual that dominates their sport or league for an extended length of time. Some leagues maintain official lists of dynasties, often as part of a hall of fame, but in many cases, whether a team or individual has achieved a dynasty is subjective. This can result in frequent topic of debate among sports fans due to lack of consensus and agreement in the many different variables and criteria that fans may use to define a sports dynasty.[1][2][3]Merriam-Webster describes a dynasty as a "sports franchise which has a prolonged run of successful seasons".[4]

Hendrick Motorsports has had two streaks of four or more consecutive championships and has 15 NASCAR championships overall. The combined operations of the works and satellite teams have won six consecutive championships, since 2006.[6]

New York Yankees: From 1921 to 1964, the Yankees played in 29 of the 44 World Series, winning 20 of them. During this 44-year period, the Yankees had two dominant stretches:

From 1936 to 1943 the Yankees dominated baseball for eight years, capturing seven American League pennants and six World Series Championships, including four World Series in a row from 1936–1939.[18][19]

From 1947 to 1964 the Yankees won 15 of 18 AL pennants and 10 World Series, including five in a row from 1949–1953. This is the MLB record for most consecutive championships.[18][20]

Cincinnati Redsfrom 1970to 1976, Known as The Big Red Machine, they dominated the sport for 7 years (5 National League Western Division titles, four National League pennants in 1970, 1972, 1975 and 1976, plus two World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. The team's combined record from 1970 to 1976 was 683 wins and 443 losses, an average of nearly 98 wins per season).[22][23][24]

New York Yankees: From 1996 to 2003. Led by manager Joe Torre, and The Core Four, the Yankees dominated the sport for 8 years (8 postseason appearances including 7 AL East division titles, 6 AL pennants in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 & 2003, & 4 World Series championships in 8 years in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000). The Yankees also added another World series title in 2009 to make 5 championships won by the Core four.[26]

San Antonio Spurs of 1999 to 2016. Led by Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginóbili and head coach Gregg Popovich. San Antonio has won 5 NBA championships (in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014) in 16 seasons, 6 Western Conference titles, 11 division championships, and 18 consecutive playoff appearances from 1998–2015. The Spurs have been able to sustain a high level of consistency in Duncan's tenure with the team. The Spurs won 50+ games every season from 1997–98 through 2015–16 (except the strike-shortened 1998–99 season), as well as a .707 win percentage during that span, the highest in any of the four major American sports). The Spurs, however, have never won NBA titles in consecutive years and thus have never successfully defended an NBA title.

Indiana Pacers from 1969 to 1975 led by star players such as Freddie Lewis, Roger Brown, Mel Daniels, and George McGinnis. The Pacers won 5 ABA Conference Championships in 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1975 and won the ABA Championship in 1970, 1972, and 1973. Other noteworthy accomplishments include 3 consecutive ABA division titles in 1969, 1970, and 1971, their playoff berths in every year of the ABA's existence, as well as their place as the winningest franchise in ABA history.[36]

University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball under Pat Summitt from 1987 to 1998 (six national championships in 12 seasons, including three consecutive championships from 1996 to 1998 (the first women's team to do so), one undefeated season setting the most wins ever with 39, and an over-all record of 314–38 (.877).[40][41]

University of Connecticut under Geno Auriemma from 1999 thru present (11 championships in 17 seasons, including three consecutive championships from 2002–2004 and four consecutive from 2013–2016; five undefeated seasons in 2002, 2009, 2010, 2014 & 2016. The Huskies set a record with a 90-game winning streak from November 2008 to December 2010, and would later break that record with a 111-game winning streak from November 2014 to March 2017.[42][43]

University of Kentucky from 1985 to 2017 (22 championships in 33 years, including a run of 8 consecutive championships from 1995–2002)[44]

Morehead State University coed cheerleading team from 1988 to 2010 (19 championships in 22 years, including a run of 10 consecutive championships from 1991–2000) The All Girl and Co-ed Squads have combined for 26 national titles.[45]

Notre Dame Preparatory School (Pontiac, MI) from 2014 through 2017 the girls competitive cheer team won 4 straight Division 3 MHSAA State Championships. The team won 10 of a possible 12 "Mittens" winning the District title in 2014, 2015 and 2016, the Regional title in 2014, 2015, and 2016 and the State title all four years. Affectionately known as #QuadSquad, 7 seniors finished their careers having never left The Deltaplex without a ring, 5 of the seniors having won all 4 years of their high school careers. Coach Beth Campbell led the team to all 4 championships, including a runner-up performance in 2013. In total, 53 different athletes won a State Championship over those 4 years.[46]

University of Iowa Hawkeyes have 23 total NCAA championships. The dynasty runs from 1975 to 1986 (11 NCAA championships in 12 years), from 1991 to 2000 (9 NCAA championships in 10 years) and three consecutive national championships from 2008–2010. Iowa also had a dynasty run of 25 straight BigTen conference tournament championships from 1974–1998.[18][47]

Oklahoma State University have 34 total NCAA championships in wrestling, most national championships in one sport by any school. Dynasty runs from 1928 to 1949 (16 NCAA championships in 21 years), from 1954 to 1964 (8 NCAA championships in 10 years) and four consecutive national championships from 2003–2006.[47]

Indiana University won six consecutive NCAA championships from 1968–73 in men's swimming and diving. The Hoosiers also finished second at the NCAA's five times in 1964–66 and 1974–75, third in 1967, and fourth (twice) in 1976–77. This totals 14 straight years that Indiana finished in the top four teams in the nation. From 1961–85 the Hoosiers won 23 out of 25 Big Ten Championships (every year but 1981–82) including 20 straight from 1961–80. Olympian Mark Spitz, who won seven gold medals and set seven world records at the 1972 Olympics, was a member of the 1969–72 NCAA Championship teams.

Auburn University earned 13 total NCAA championships in swimming and diving, eight by the men's team and five by the women's team during a 12-year period from 1997 to 2009. During that stretch, the Auburn Tigers men won five consecutive national championships and the women won three consecutive national championships. In the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Auburn men earned 16 consecutive team titles between 1997–2012 while the women took five non-consecutive SEC championships. Auburn swimmers won 18 medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics, more than many countries.[48][49][50]

The Carmel, Indiana girls swim team has won a national record 33 state team titles, including one that was made in 1982, and also 32 straight state team titles from 1985 to 2017, making them the all-time best high school sports program in the country. Their 2015 win broke the tie with the Honolulu Punahou boys swimming team, who had won 29 straight from 1958 to 1986.[51][52][53][54]

The West Indian cricket team dominated test cricket through the 1980s and early 1990s. The West Indian team was not beaten in a test series between March 1980 and May 1995, a fifteen-year span including twenty series wins and nine drawn series.[55][56]

Australian national cricket team from 1996 through 2007. The Australian cricket team is the only team to win the World Cup three consecutive times (1999, 2003, 2007) and they remain undefeated since their last defeat in group stages in 1999 World Cup against Pakistan. Their first loss in World Cup came 2011 World Cup group stage against Pakistan.[55]

The Soviet Union women's national handball team was the first to dominate handball, doing so for fourteen years between 1976 and 1990. They won 63% of the gold medals in the process (5/8), 71% of entered tournaments considering the 1984 Summer Olympics boycott, including three consecutive world championships and being the first ever to win back to back Olympic gold in 1980.

The Denmark women's national handball team became the first team, in 1997, to hold all three major titles: world, Olympic and continental. Led by coach Jan Pytlick Denmark won its third Olympic gold medal in a row in 2004, for the first time in the history of handball.[57] From 1996 to 2004 the team had won 50% of all major titles (6/12) including 56% of major tournament wins (5/9) from 1996 to 2002.

Led by line player Else-Marthe Sørlie Lybekk and goalkeeper Katrine Lunde Haraldsen, the Norway women's national handball team became the only team in handball history, on the women's and men's side, to have won the Euro championship in handball four times in a row. They have won a total of six European championship gold medals, an all-time record.[58] In 2011 they became the third team in the world to have held all three titles at the same time.[59] In 2015 they are back to back Olympic and European champions. From 2004 to present they have won 53% (8/15) of major titles including 58% (7/12) between 2004 and 2012.

In the 50's/60's, the men's Sweden national handball team was unbeaten for 10 years, becoming the first ever team to win back to back world championships (8 year domination) and collecting consecutive medals for 24 years. At the time the world championship was the only major competition being played (continental championships first took place in the 1990s and handball was not an Olympic sport until 1972 except for the 1936 Olympics).[57][60]

For thirteen years the Romania men's national handball team was virtually unbeatable, led by Gheorghe Gruia they won four out of five world championships between 1961 and 1974, first ever team to land two back to back championships. Recorded an all-time best 80% of wins in major tournaments for a period of ten plus years.[60]

The Sweden national handball team dominated the game of handball in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Led by coach Bengt Johansson and key players Magnus Wislander and Staffan Olsson, they have won three European championships in a row from 1998 to 2002, winning 60% of the major tournaments held in this period of time (3/5), clinching silver or gold medals in eight consecutive major tournaments between 1996 and 2002 (four times winner, four times runner up).

Led by coach Claude Onesta, goalie Thierry Omeyer and key playmaker Nikola Karabatić, the men's France national handball team was the first ever to win five world championships in 2015, five out of ten world championships between 1995 and 2015. France is also the first men's team to have won back to back Olympic titles (2008 and 2012).[57] In 2010 it became the first men's team to simultaneously hold Olympic, world and continental titles.[60][61] In 2011 after another world championship title France men's team also clinched four consecutive major titles for the first time in the history of the game, women's included. In 2015 France holds all major titles for the third time in 5 years, three of the last five European championships and three of the last four world championships in play whilst being back to back Olympic champion. From 2008 to 2015 they have won seven out of nine major titles (78%) as well as 67% of wins for 9 years from 2006 to present (8/12).

D.C. United, 1996 to 1999 (three MLS championships in four years and two Supporters' Shields).

LA Galaxy, 2009 to 2015 (three MLS championships in five years and two Supporters Shields as first place team in the regular season. Additionally, the team has four Western Conference titles and has had great players such as David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane.

Cruzeiro of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The club won one Brazilian championship (1966) and one Copa Libertadores (1976), appearing on three straight Libertadores semifinals and four national championship finals, also winning nine Minas Gerais state championships.

São Paulo of the 2000s. The team won the Copa Libertadores and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2005 and went on to become the first club of the Brazilian Championship era to win the national title for three seasons in a row (2006, 2007 and 2008). Aside from that, São Paulo qualified for the Libertadores through the Brazilian Championship for seven straight seasons (2004–2010), also a national record. During that period, the team was captained by goalkeeper Rogério Ceni and featured players such as Diego Lugano, Miranda and Hernanes.

Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven dominated the Dutch league from 1970 to 2008 with a few exceptions. Feyenoord was the first Dutch club who won a European trophy. Ajax won three European Cups in a row from 1971 to 1973, and won a fourth title in 1995. PSV won the European Cup in 1988.[citation needed]

Liverpool between 1972 and 1990. During those eighteen years, the club became English champions on eleven occasions, under the successive guidance of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish. Other domestic honours won during the period were the FA Cup in 1974, 1986 and 1989 and the Football League Cup, won on four consecutive occasions from 1981 to 1984. This dominance was extended to the European continent starting in 1972–73 when the club won the UEFA Cup. Further success in this competition arrived in 1975–76, before Liverpool embarked on a run of four European Cup wins between 1976–77 and 1983–84. No other English club has since then achieved such success in the premier club competition of European football. The Reds reached their finest hour in 1983–84 when, with Joe Fagan at the helm, they became English champions while also winning the Football League Cup and the European Cup against Roma.

Manchester United from the start of the Premier League (1992–93) to 2012–13. After six seasons of Sir Alex Ferguson rebuilding the club, the team won the first ever Premier League title, which was also their eighth top-tier league title. This victory was only the beginning of dominance as the club won the League title 12 more times, setting a new English record of 20 top-tier titles for one club. Manchester United also lifted the FA Cup during this period with victories in 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99 and 2003–04. They have also won the UEFA Champions League in 1998–99 (completing a "treble" of league title, FA Cup and European Cup), and another in 2007–08. During this time, the club finished no lower than third in the Premier League.[66]

Olympique Lyonnais from 2001–02 to the 2007–08 seasons in Ligue 1. Lyon became the first French club to win a national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles, including six consecutive Trophée des Champions. It also managed to win a Coupe de France in 2008.

Bayern Munich from 1971 to present. Bayern have won the Bundesliga a record 26 times, more than twice its closest Bundesliga contender. Bayern also won the European Cup three times in a row from 1974 to 1976, and won the Champions League a fourth time in 2001 and a fifth time in 2013. Bayern became the first German club to win the quadraple in 2013 season, winning Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup

Borussia Mönchengladbach from 1969/1970 to 1976/77. Borussia Mönchengladbach became Bundesliga champions in 5 of 8 seasons. This has been achieved against strong opponance by Bayern Munich and notably in all three seasons in which Bayern won the European cup in a row (1974 to 1976).

Genoa from 1898 to 1904 in Italian football having won six Italian championship titles in seven years.

Pro Vercelli from 1908 to 1913 in Italian football having won five Italian championship titles in six years. Also, the Vercelli's club players during that period constituted the backbone of the nascent national team.[70]

A fourth triumphs era for the club was established in the late 1990s and early 2000s (decade) when Juventus won seven titles in twelve years from 1995 to 2006. In that period, the Torinese club also won one Coppa Italia, four Supercoppa Italiana, one Intercontinental Cup, one Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup and one UEFA Intertoto Cup, leading also the confederation ranking in the ending 1990s.[82]

A a renewed successful era begins from 2011–12 to 2016–17 seasons, where the club won six consecutive Serie A titles and three Italian Cups in a row (2015–2017), establishing new all-time record of successive triumphs in both competitions.[83] During this time, Juventus won also three national super cups and also appeared in two Champions League finals.[84]

Milan in the second mid of the 1950s, having won three league titles in five years,[72] and from the 1987–88 to the 1993–94 seasons in the Italian league Milan were able to win four Serie A titles. Also they were able to secure four Supercoppa Italiana in 1988, 1992, 1993 and 1994. In the international spotlight Milan added three UEFA Champions Leagues in 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1993–94 seasons, three UEFA Super Cup titles (1989, 1990 and 1994) and two Intercontinental Cups (1989 and 1990).[72]

Kashima Antlers from 2007 to 2012, won the 2007 J.League title they became the first and only team in Japan to have won ten domestic titles in the professional era. In 2008 they became the first and only club to successfully defend the J.League title on two separate occasions. In 2009 they became the first and only club to win three consecutive J.League titles. With victories in back to back J.League Cups in 2011, 2012 and most recently followed by their 2015 victory, Kashima extended their unmatched record of major domestic titles in the professional era to seventeen.

Celtic—eleven titles from 1966 to 1979 and the first British European champions in 1967 as part of a quadruple of trophies. Celtic also won eight Scottish Cups and six League Cups, besides losing the 1970 European Cup final.

Rangers—eighteen titles from 1987 to 2011, including nine in a row from 1989 to 1997.

Real Madrid from the 1953–54 to the 1971–72 seasons in La Liga and the European Cup. Real Madrid won six European Cups, including five in a row from 1956–60, and 13 La Liga titles, including five in a row from 1961–65.[86][87]

Barcelona from the 2004–05 to present. Barcelona won eight La Liga championships, four Champions League titles, four Copa del Rey titles, six Spanish Super Cups, three European Super Cups and three FIFA Club World Cups. Barcelona won an unprecedented six major trophies in 2009, and became the first Spanish team to win the treble and the first European treble-winning team to also capture the European Super Cup and Club World Cup.[88][89][90][91][92] They also became the first team to win the treble twice in European football in the 2014–15 season.

Japan from 1992 and 2011, won four of the six AFC Asian Cups, the second oldest continental football championship in the world after the Copa América that awards the winning team the title of Champions of Asia and automatically qualifies them for the FIFA Confederations Cup. This reign included back to back consecutive Asian Cups from 2000 and 2004.

North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer, 1979–2012 (22 national championships in 34 years, 21 of those are NCAA Tournament Championships) This also includes 9 consecutive NCAA Tournament Championships from 1986–1994, and 15 consecutive ACC Tournament Championships from 1989–2003. Also, they boast a 90% win rate, having won 704 games and lost or tied only 78 games.[18]

New England Patriots 2001–present Led by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Five Super Bowl titles in 16 years (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016) including three in four years, three other Super Bowl appearances (2007, 2011 and 2017), twelve AFC title game appearances (2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011–2017), and 15 AFC East Division titles (2001, 2003–2007, and 2009–2017). The 2007 season also saw the Patriots become only the second team in NFL history to record a perfect regular season and the first to do so in a 16-game season. During this time, the Patriots set the NFL's #1 and #2 record for most consecutive games won; 21 from 2003–2004, and 18 from 2007–2008. From 2001–2016 the Patriots have averaged over 12 wins per season and a .766 win percentage, the highest in any of the four major American sports making them the greatest NFL dynasty since inception of the league.[94][97]

The problems inherent in identifying sports dynasties are exacerbated in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, where the national champion is determined, at least in part, by poll rather than through a tournament. These polls, however, are largely based on win-loss records, thereby relying on minimal subjectivity. When fans of a sport cannot agree on which team within a league or other organization should be considered as holding that organization's championship, discussing whether a team has become a dynasty is more difficult. Because of these problems, teams that consistently win their conference championship and are frequently in contention for national championships are termed dynasties more often than a similarly performing team in another sport or division might.

Florida State, 1987–2000 – At the height of Bobby Bowden's dominance, the Florida State Seminoles went 152–19–1, won nine ACC championships (1992–2000), two national championships (1993 and 1999), played for three more national championships (1996, 1998 and 2000), were ranked #1 in the pre-season AP poll 5 times (1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, and 1999), never lost the #1 AP ranking during 1999, produced 20 1st round NFL draft picks (including the 1997 offensive and defensive rookies of the year), won at least 10 games every year, and never finished a season ranked lower than fourth in the AP poll. Quarterbacks Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke won Heisman Trophies.[112]

USC from 2002–2005. Led by head coach Pete Carroll, and players Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and LenDale White. They were one of the most flashy and attention getter teams in the history of college football. They won two consecutive AP national championships (2003 and 2004), appearance in the 2005 National Championship Game, seven straight Pac-10 titles, six major bowl wins in seven years (Rose: 2003 and 2007–2009, Orange: 2004 and 2005), and maintained a 34-game winning streak from 2003–2005. They also produced 3 Heisman Trophy winners in Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Reggie Bush in 2002, 2004, and 2005 respectively. Even though their 2005 USC Trojans football team lost in one of the best national championship games in history in the 2006 Rose Bowl, they are still considered one of the best teams in college football history.

Alabama, 2008–present. Led by head coach Nick Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. Alabama won 5 National Championships in 9 years (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017). Since the 2008 season, Alabama has averaged 12 wins per season and have a record as of the 2016 season of 112-13. Alabama is known for their more traditional style of play with hard hitting, and relentless attacks under Saban. In 2009 and 2015, Alabama got its first and second Heisman Trophy winners ever in their storied history, when RBs Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry accomplished this feat and both won the national championship in the same year as well.[114][115][116]

Dynasty status is subjective, and is not recognized by any official organization, including the NCAA.

Youngstown State 1991–1999. Led by head coach Jim Tressel. YSU won four national championships (1991, 1993, 1994, 1997) and appeared in six National Championship Games in nine years.

North Dakota State 2011–present. Led by coaches Craig Bohl and Chris Klieman, North Dakota State has won six NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision National Championships in the past seven years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017). During this period they've accumulated a record of 97-8 (.924) which has included seven consecutive conference titles and a 28-2 playoff record. The six championships is a feat that has never been accomplished in American football history at any level. The 2014–15 senior class graduated with more National Championships than losses over that 4-year period.

Northwest Missouri State from 1996–present Led by coaches Mel Tjeerdsma and coach Adam Dorrel. They went to the playoffs every year and played in 10 NCAA Division II national football championship games in '98, '99, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '13 '15 and '16. They won six championships in '98, '99, '09, '13, '15, and '16. They are one of the most successful Division II programs in the country sending numerous players to professional football leagues that are NFL, CFL, UFL and Arena Football Leagues.

Mount Union, 1993–present – Mount Union won 110 consecutive regular-season games between 1994 and 2005, posted 14 undefeated regular seasons, won 16 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships, and had the best overall record in the 1990s (120–7–1 .941). They won Division III championships in 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2015 and have appeared in 19 national championship games since 1993.[120]

Wisconsin–Whitewater, 2005–2014 – Led by coach Lance Leipold, UW–Whitewater appeared in seven consecutive Division III championship games between 2005 and 2011. They won Division III championships in 2007, 2009, 2010 2011, 2013, and 2014. The team has remained a championship contender since Leipold's departure but has not won another championship since.[121]

Carroll College (Montana) of the 2000s (decade) – 8 straight Frontier Conference Championships (2000 to 2007), six straight national semi-final appearances (2000–2005), and six NAIA National Football Championships in nine years (2002–2005,2007,2010).[119]

Texas A&I 7 NAIA National Championships in 11 years, 1968–1979. 3 consecutive and 5 in the decade of the 1970s: 1970-74-75-76-70. Lost only 1 NAIA Playoff Game (1968 National Championship Game—to Boise State, now a Bowl Subdivision team.[119]

Carson-Newman 5 NAIA National Championships in 7 years, 1983–89. Winning the title in 1983-86-88-89 outright and tied the 1984 title with Central Arkansas.[119]

Linfield 3 NAIA National Championships in 6 years, 1982–86; winning it in 1982-84-86.[119]

Soviet Union 1963–1990. This stretch is the most dominant stretch of all-time in international play, with the Soviets winning nearly every world championship and Olympic tournament between 1963 and 1990 and never failing to medal in any IIHF tournament they competed.

Canada 2003–2009. Canada had another dynasty stretch from 2003–2009 having won 3 gold and 3 silver medals in 7 tournaments.

Russia 2008–2015. Russia is recognized by the IIHF as the successor to the Soviet Union and have passed its ranking on to Russia, which began competing internationally in 1993. Russia's "latest" dynasty stretch saw them win 4 golds and 2 silvers in 8 tournaments.

Minnesota Golden Gophers: 1974–1981, 3 championships and 2 runners-up in 8 tournaments. The majority of players during this stretch hailed from the state of Minnesota and eight players were members of the 1980 U.S. Miracle on Ice team.

Maryland Terrapins won eight national titles from 1992–2001, capturing seven consecutive titles from 1995–2001 and completing four undefeated seasons.[132]

Northwestern Wildcats won seven national titles from 2005–2012, capturing five consecutive titles from 2005–2009, national runner-up in 2010, and two more titles in 2011 and 2012. Northwestern completed two undefeated seasons in 2005 and 2009.

Kalamazoo College men's tennis team has won 77 consecutive Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships (1936–2015) with a record of 426-2 in the MIAA from 1935–2007.[136] Kalamazoo has won seven NCAA Division III national championships and has made 25 consecutive NCAA III tournament appearances.[137][citation needed]

Roger Federer, 2004–2007, Spent 237 consecutive weeks as the World Number 1. Won 11 of 17 Major titles during the period.

The NCAA Division I Penn State Nittany Lions women's volleyball team won four consecutive National Championships from 2007 to 2010, including two perfect seasons in 2008 and 2009, and then the Nittany Lions repeated in 2013 & 2014, to make it six Championships in eight years and seven overall titles with the first title coming in 1999; and Big 10 Conference Championships from 2003 to 2010, 2013 and 2014.

The Concordia University (Saint Paul) women's volleyball team have captured NCAA Division II Championships in seven consecutive seasons – the only NCAA volleyball program to accomplish the feat at the Division I or II levels. Their seven total volleyball titles is more than any program as well, with the sport dating back to 1980, at the women's Division II level. Their head coach, Brady Starkey, boasts a 306-26 overall record (.926) making him the winningest active NCAA volleyball coach in any division by overall percentage. They have also mounted 9 consecutive conference Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championships (from 2003 to 2011) including 6-undefeated conference campaigns.[139]

The NCAA Division III Washington University in St. Louis women's volleyball team were the first volleyball team to win six consecutive national championships, from 1991 to 1996. They have won a total of 10 NCAA championships, including 26 consecutive appearances in the championship tournament dating back to 1987, the most of any program at any level.[140]

Most disputes about dynasties relate to teams that dominated within a conference or division, but either failed to win championships or infrequently won championships. This is exacerbated in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A), where the national champion is determined, at least in part, by poll rather than through a tournament.

Buffalo Bills won 4 AFC Championships in a row from 1990–1993 (three times by a spread of greater than 14 points), the only team ever to do so, and for this they are sometimes considered a dynasty.[94][141] However, they went on to lose the Super Bowl all four times; the Bills' AFC dominance partially overlapped with the Dallas Cowboys dynasty.

Boise State Broncos football from 1998 to 2008. At 113–26, their 81.29% win rate was the highest in the nation.[142] Won ten of twelve conference championships from 1999 to 2009, undefeated in conference play in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2009, perfect seasons in 2006 and 2009, but has never been selected to play in the Division I-A national championship.

Detroit Red Wings of the mid-1990s through the late 2000s. Although not officially listed by the NHL as a dynasty, the Red Wings won 4 Stanley Cups in 11 seasons (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008) and went to the Stanley Cup Finals six times in fourteen seasons (1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008, and 2009). The Red Wings had the best team record during both the 1990s and 2000s, accumulating the most points of any franchise during each decade. Detroit won the Presidents' Trophy for the best regular season record in the NHL in 1995, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008, in all winning their division thirteen times during this span.[143] The Red Wings have also qualified for the playoffs the last 24 seasons (since 1991), excluding 2005 that had no playoffs due to a lockout.

San Antonio Spurs of 1999 to 2014 led by Tim Duncan. (five NBA championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014) in sixteen seasons, six Western Conference titles, eleven division championships, and seventeen consecutive playoff appearances from 1998 to 2014, with a .705 win percentage during that span, the highest in any of the four major American sports) are considered a dynasty by some,[144][145] but not by others [146][147] because they did not win consecutive titles.

University of Southern California football, 2002–2005 – two consecutive AP national championships (2003 and 2004), appearance in the 2005 National Championship Game, seven straight Pac-10 titles, six major bowl wins in seven years (Rose: 2003 and 2007–2009, Orange: 2004 and 2005), and maintained a 34-game winning streak from 2003–2005.[148] However, USC was forced to vacate two wins from the 2004 season including the Orange Bowl win and BCS national Championship, all wins from the 2005 season, and the Pac-10 titles from both of those seasons as the result of rules violations involving star running back Reggie Bush.

^Sachare, Alex. "The Dynasties: Minneapolis Lakers". NBA Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2008-11-12. The Minneapolis Lakers are the forgotten dynasty, an afterthought when the discussion turns to the NBA's greatest teams...But history cannot be changed and should not be forgotten. The Minneapolis Lakers were the NBA's first dynasty, winning five titles in six seasons from 1948–49 through 1953–54. Add the championship the Lakers won in the National Basketball League before they entered the NBA and the count is six crowns in seven seasons—a dynasty by any standard.

^Barreiro, Dan. "The Fab Five". NBA Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2008-11-13. Led by George Mikan, the Minneapolis Lakers—basketball's first dynasty—ruled the league with five titles in six seasons...From 1948 to 1954, the Minneapolis Lakers ruled professional basketball. They would win six championships in seven years while playing in three different leagues – the National Basketball League (1948), the Basketball Association of America (1949) and the NBA (1950, '52, '53, '54).

^Brown, Clifton. "The Foundation of a Dynasty". NBA Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2008-11-12. It is the greatest dynasty in NBA history. It began 49 years ago. It is still hard to believe.

^Puma, Mike. "Sportscenter Biography: Wizard of Westwood". ESPN Classic. Retrieved 2010-02-08. No dynasty in college basketball history compares to the monster Wooden built at UCLA in the 1960s and 1970s, winning 10 NCAA titles in his last 12 seasons before he retired in 1975. From 1967 to 1973, the "Wizard of Westwood" guided the Bruins to a record seven straight national championships...Starting in 1971 and ending in 1974, UCLA won 88 straight games, an NCAA record that hasn’t come close to falling. Wooden's teams also compiled four 30–0 seasons and won 19 conference championships, including eight undefeated Pacific Conference seasons.

^Hastings, Courtney (2009-02-05), "Cheerleading best in nation — again", The Trail Blazer, archived from the original on 2011-07-24, retrieved 2010-12-23, Crites and Van Horn are members of the Morehead State Co-ed Cheerleading Team, which is the most successful cheerleading program in the country with 20 national championships. The latest was added in Jan during the College National Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Fla...There are 26 spots on the co-ed team and 28 on the all-girl squad, which finished second at the national competition this year and has six national championships overall.

^In addition, Juventus F.C. were the first club in association football history to have won all possible confederation competitions (e.g. the international tournaments organised by UEFA) and remain the only in the world to achieve this, cf. "Legend: UEFA club competitions". Union des Associations Européennes de Football. 21 August 2006. Archived from the original on 31 January 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2013."1985: Juventus end European drought". Union des Associations Européennes de Football. 8 December 1985. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.

^"Joe Stydahar". Pro Football Hall of Fame. National Football League. Retrieved 2008-07-31. He returned in 1945 to play for two more years. During that period, the Bears won three NFL championships and five Western Division titles. In Joe's final game, the 1946 Bears defeated the New York Giants, 24–14. It was the last major triumph of the Bears’ dynasty years.

^ abcdeShaughnessy, Dan (2005-02-05). "Dynasty". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-07-30. And the New England Patriots of the 21st century are established as an NFL dynasty on a par with the Packers of the 1960s, the Steelers of the 1970s, the 49ers of the 1980s, and the Cowboys of the 1990s.

^ abLuedtke, Luther (1992). Making America. UNC Press. p. 283. ISBN0-8078-4370-9. These were the rules that Knute Rockne used at Notre Dame to build the greatest football dynasty since the old Yale teams of the 19th century, transforming "Fighting Irish" from an ethnic slur to a badge of pride.

^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. The Irish didn't lose a game in coach Frank Leahy's first four seasons, with two ties serving as their only blemishes. They captured three national titles and produced two Heisman winners, Johnny Lujack and Leon Hart.

^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. Sooners coach Bud Wilkinson – who would later set an NCAA record with 47 straight victories – produced a 31-game streak from 1948–50. OU finished No. 2 in the AP poll in '49 before winning the national title in '50.

^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. Led by head coach Barry Switzer, the Sooners went 54–3–1 over a five-year span, finishing No. 2 in 1971 and '72 before winning 28 straight games from '73–75, capturing consecutive national titles in '74 and '75.

^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. At the twilight of his career, legendary Crimson Tide coach Bear Bryant produced one last run of dominance, winning national titles in 1978 and '79 – the first coming on a famous goal-line stand against Penn State in the Sugar Bowl – and finishing No. 2 in '77.

^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-05-01. At the height of Bobby Bowden's dominance, the Florida State Seminoles won two national championships (1993 and 1999), played for three others (1996, 1998 and 2000) and never finished outside the AP top four. Quarterbacks Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke won Heisman Trophies.

^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. With their unstoppable option offense and a sea of dominating defenders, Tom Osborne's Huskers captured at least a share of three national championships and played for a fourth, all following undefeated regular seasons.

^Futterman, Matthew (2009-12-11). "Grand Valley State: America's Biggest Little School". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2009-12-11. Grand Valley State University is a modern dynasty in Division II football. The Lakers, who play in Allendale, Mich., have won four of the past seven championships heading into Saturday's title game against Northwest Missouri State University.

^ abcdefThamel, Pete (2006-08-27). "The Quiet Dynasty". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-04. Carroll College, an elite Catholic institution of 1,500 students in Montana's capital, is one of just two college football programs at any level to win four consecutive national championships. Augustana College of Illinois won four consecutive N.C.A.A. Division III titles in the 1980s.

^Boehm, Jenn (2008-02-21). "McClay reflects on his long journey". Arena Football League. Retrieved 2008-07-31. He played defensive back at Rice University and attended camp with the Cowboys before making his mark as a wide receiver/linebacker with the Detroit Drive dynasty in late '80s–early '90s.[dead link]

^"Cindy Timchal Profile". The University of Maryland. Archived from the original on 2007-02-07. Retrieved 2008-08-08. Prior to '91, the Terrapins' last title had come in 1986 under head coach Sue Tyler, but the Maryland dynasty began to re-emerge almost immediately under Timchal's guidance...The dynasty continued throughout the 1998 season despite an 0–2 start following losses to Duke and North Carolina. That season finished the same way as the previous three, however, with Timchal's Terrapins being re-crowned the NCAA champions, this time behind an 11–5 win over Virginia.